2018 was a big year for plant-based meats, but 2019 could mark an even bigger turning point for the market. The Good Food Institute says that sales of plant-based meats grew by more than 23 percent last year. Much of that growth came from Asia. Now one of the industry's leading players – US-based Impossible Foods – is aiming to expand its footprint into the region to capitalise on a growing appetite for meat alternatives.

Side by side, it does look a little different. You might say the meatless patty is like a more finely-ground version of the real beef burger you see here. But fire it up on the grill, and you'd be hard-pushed to tell there's any difference at all.

UWE OPOCENSKY, GROUP EXECUTIVE CHEF BEEF & LIBERTY "It's so close to the real thing in terms of the way it handles, the way it cooks, the way it tastes."

This restaurant in Hong Kong began serving plant-based burgers made by Impossible Foods about a year ago when the company made its first foray into the market. It's not the only brand of plant-based meat available in Hong Kong, but it's the one that's arguably gotten the closest to replicating the real thing. The key ingredient that helps it achieve that is a molecule called heme. Rich in iron, it's found in all animals and plants, and it's what gives the Impossible Burger its meaty flavour.

PATRICK FOK HONG KONG "Alright well it's time for that taste test, and I must say it does taste just like the real thing. Now this restaurant says over the past year it's been slowly expanding its meatless meat offerings, and it says it's actually helped it attract an entirely new customer base altogether."

It's also at the heart of the company's plans to launch an entirely meatless chain of outlets. When Impossible Foods first ventured into Hong Kong last year, it was available in just four restaurants. It's now on menus in over 150. And recently, it launched in Singapore as part of its expansion into Asia.

NICK HALLA, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT INTERNATIONAL, IMPOSSIBLE FOODS "We've started in Hong Kong and places like Singapore where we can really build credibility as a high-quality food, and food brand, but really going through China and throughout Asia are imminently important."

Under dietary guidelines released in 2016, China is aiming to cut individual meat consumption by 50 percent as part of efforts to fight greenhouse gas emissions. If Impossible Foods can gain a foothold in the country, it could take a big bite out of the growing market with more than a billion consumers. PATRICK FOK, CGTN, HONG KONG.